AAP chief refuses Z security

Vishnu Sukumaran New Delhi: Dec 23, 2013 DHNS

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Monday wrote to the Delhi Police that he will not accept ‘Z category’ security cover provided to a chief minister designate, saying god is his biggest security.

In the past too, Kejriwal had refused security citing the moral principles that he and his party stood for.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Security) V Renganathan wrote a letter to Kejriwal’s private secretary on Monday.

In a handwritten reply, the 45-year-old said, “Thank you for offering me security. But as I have already informed earlier, I don’t need any security. I don’t need any escort or PSO. God is my biggest security.”

However, Kejriwal sought help for crowd management and screening at a few places where he gets mobbed.

In the letter to Kejriwal’s private secretary, Renganathan wrote that the police have been providing Z category security cover to the chief minister of Delhi. “Since Kejriwal is going to take over as the chief minister, the Delhi Police need to give security cover to him as per norms,” Renganathan said.

He also asked for direction as to where the security personnel should report to Kejriwal. A copy of the letter was sent to Special Commissioner of Police (Security) Taj Hassan, who said Kejriwal will be provided security cover as per the law.

On December 13, a Delhi Police team visited Kejriwal’s house in Ghaziabad to make a security assessment for his meetings with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. Kejriwal refused them saying that when the safety of crores of citizens was at stake, how can a leader think of taking security cover.

He also declined to accept security cover from the UP Police in October. The AAP has also pledged that none of its party leaders will use red beacon cars, bungalows or security cover.Usually, Z category security cover has 22 personnel of the Delhi Police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police or the Central Reserve Police Force.